Top 10: March Madness Prospects

Number 8

Thaddeus Young - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Position: Small Forward Height: 6‘8” Weight: 200 lbs Age: 18

”Upside” is a word that is thrown around on draft day more than poker chips are at a high-stakes game. It’s also a term that many agents and GMs are applying to Thaddeus Young, making him a good draft prospect.

Thaddeus is explosive, athletic, long, and raw. Three of those terms are compliments, but the latter indicates that his skills need refining. His outside shot can be inconsistent and his ball handling can be sloppy, but Young’s great attitude and dedication have helped him improve his overall game.

He’s versatile enough to play multiple positions in college, which makes him tough to stop. He’s also too fast for the big men and his wingspan allows him to shoot over the smaller personnel. In the NBA, he’s tabbed as a ”tweener” (between positions) who can adjust. Thaddeus is an incredible pressure defender who triggers the press defense, but he could use about 20 pounds to stand his ground and finish in traffic.

Stock check: Young is a hot prospect as it is, but a surprising run by Georgia Tech will help raise his stock. He is capable of taking control of a game, and if he does so en route to a Sweet Sixteen appearance, he’ll be in the top 10 of the 2007 NBA Draft.

Number 7

Roy Hibbert - Georgetown Hoyas

Position: Center Height: 7‘2” Weight: 278 lbs Age: 20

Hibbert is a valuable NBA prospect because he is that rare big man with soft hands. His positives include excellent size and strength, which allow him to dominate in the post and in the defensive end. He averages 6.9 rebounds per game, which ranks him 14th in the Big East.

Hibbert might be calm on the court, but that has led to predictability and slow fakes. He could improve his quickness, explosiveness and speed on the open floor, but his offensive game has continued to progress nonetheless. He is an extremely efficient player and leads the NCAA in field-goal percentage (69.3%). He’s the No. 2 scorer on his team, averaging 11.6 points per game, and he hits about 80% of his free-throw shots.

Scouts love the fact that he has consistently shown improvement. Throughout his collegiate career, he has improved on his points and total blocks per game, while he has curtailed his turnovers per game.

Stock check: Playing for Georgetown, the best team from the Big East, Hibbert will continue to climb draft boards if he leads the Hoyas to the Final Four.

Number 6

Joakim Noah - Florida Gators

Position: Power Forward Height: 6’11” Weight: 227 lbs Age: 22

While leading the Florida Gators to a 2006 National Championship, Noah bubbled to the very top of the NBA Draft.

Noah has outstanding length and he’s an extremely high-energy player. He also runs the court better than any other big man in college basketball. He has a variety of skills, such as good shot blocking and solid rebounding, that make him a well-rounded player. He’s an excellent passer and finisher with good hands and an aggressive play style that draws fouls from opponents.

The problem, though, is that he decided to return to school for one more season. NBA scouts and GMs were impressed with Noah and saw great NBA potential, but that perception has been blurred as Noah has taken a step back this season. His points per game, blocks per game and intensity have dipped while his turnovers have increased.

He also lacks upper body strength and is often caught by a pump fake. Areas needing improvement include his back-to-basket game, his post footwork and his turnaround jumper.

Stock check: Noah’s stock is clearly on the downswing and he needs to have a good tournament to re-establish his skill. If he recaptures his 2006 form and leads the Gators to the Final Four, he should be in the top five and ahead of teammate Al Horford. However, he could fall out of the top 10 if he continues his regular season play.

A couple of “Wright” prospects coming out of the Midwest and the South…